An unfortunate aspect of aging is losing family members and friends. In some instances, seniors are the youngest, and they’ve lost all of their siblings, or perhaps they don’t have family nearby who can offer support as they begin to require help.
Some seniors may still prefer to stay at home, receiving assistance from in-home nurses and religious organizations. Others move to assisted living or other senior communities where they can be in constant contact with medical staff and individuals of similar ages.
If you are a caregiver for a senior who doesn’t have the support of friends or family, here are some tips for ensuring he or she is happy and healthy:
Show You Care
While it may be in your job description to provide medication, assist with mobility, and offer general help to your senior charge, he or she may really need some personal interaction. Without the phone calls and visits of loved ones, seniors may become lonely and depressed. Ensure you make extra effort to chat and check on the senior’s well-being. He or she will appreciate the small talk and know you genuinely care.
Find Senior Living Near Me
Talk About the Future
Seniors in contact with friends and family are more likely to have the necessary legal plans to ensure they are well cared for financially and medically until they pass away. Those who don’t have access to loved ones may not have deemed power of attorney or shared their wishes about potential drastic measures. Who will know what to do if that individual can no longer make important decisions or care for himself or herself? Caregivers can unite these seniors with people who can help, from professional senior guardians to older attorneys who can assist in creating living wills and end-of-life plans. Having these documents in place can provide a sense of self and relieve stress and anxiety from aging individuals.
“Close proximity to other seniors provides community.”
Encourage Engagement in the Community
If the person you care for is in a senior living community, he or she is in luck. This close proximity to other seniors can provide a sense of community, opening up chances to gain new friends and acquaintances. These residences offer many ways to unite people, like fun activities, games, and outings. Encourage the senior to get involved with the other people in the community. He or she can also consider volunteering for a cause, like walking dogs at a local animal shelter or creating hygiene kits for people in the homeless community.
If the person you’re helping doesn’t find any exciting activities or organizations to get involved in, work with the community staff to create something that he or she would like. Perhaps there are others who would enjoy learning to salsa dance or going on a nature walk to spot migrating birds and wildlife. Helping seniors feel connected with others can make a huge difference in their mental health, and happiness may even boost their physical well-being.
